If it wasn't for nonprofits and foundations, the environmental movement would not have grown as much as it has since the first Earth Day in 1970, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports.

As Earth Day's 30th anniversary passes, environmental leaders are praising these organizations, thanking them for helping everything from local conservation efforts to international campaigns.

"It is the difference between paid sex and romantic love," Scott Silver, director of the Oregon-based Wild Wilderness group, told the newspaper. "You go after goals with a different (intensity) when you are going without a salary."

In 1970, there were few resources available to the environmental movement in terms of legal support, research or outreach. Now, organizations are spending more money to get media attention for ecological causes, and foundations are providing a wide variety of support.

One example is People for Puget Sound (PPS), created by the Bullitt Foundation. PPS' main program, "Save Our Wild Salmon," fights over-fishing and pollution of Northwestern rivers and the Pacific Ocean.

Web sites dedicated to supporting environmental causes are popping up as well. For example, the newly-launched Denali.com is an "eco-network" of tech services for nonprofits, including a program that allows Web surfers to donate to specific organizations.

Other examples of how large cash infusions have furthered ecology causes include a variety of programs by the Northwest Ecosystem Alliance, ONE/Northwest's technology outreach, Ted Turner's millions for television spots alerting people to global warming, and the new Cascade Conservation Partnership -- a collective effort of Washington state conservation groups that will unveil a far-reaching project next month, the newspaper reports.

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